Dog Constipation Symptoms and Treatments & Links to Diarrhea

Dog
constipation symptoms are easy to diagnose... either your dog has not pooped for a while or he strains when trying. Generally speaking, if your dog has not gone for more than two days she is most likely constipated.

The same things that make us that way – lack of exercise, not enough bulk in the diet, an irregular diet, not going to the bathroom enough (not letting your dog out enough) or dog anxiety from stressful or new situations such as traveling (see our Pet Friendly Airlines / Pet Friendly Travel page for more on keeping the stress low during travel).

Dog Constipation Treatments

For mild and "one off" episodes of dog constipation symptoms, follow these tips:

First, let your dog out as frequently as possible to give them a chance to relieve themselves and make sure they get a lot of exercise. Sometimes just the jostling around from exercise will loosen the stool enough to instigate a bowel movement. The increased metabolism cause by exercise will also help regulate the
system.

If the feces look dry, try adding ½ teaspoon to 1 tablespoon (depending on your dog's size) of bran to each meal.

For a large buildup, add ½ teaspoon to 2 tablespoons (again, based on your dog's size) of mineral oil to your dog's food once per day only
until one bowel movement occurs. Do not feed mineral oil for longer than one week.

For more severe or chronic dog constipation symptoms, first visit your vet to determine the underlying causes which can range anywhere from
mild dehydration to drugs to renal disease. Your holistic veterinarian may suggest one of several options along with the above recommendations.

PetAlive's Digestive Support herbal supplement is worth a try before paying for more expensive holistic vet treatments. It contains licorice, slippery elm and
marshmallow -- not the ones you put over a campfire -- which soothe the lining and improve the health of the digestive tract. Other
benefits include:

Maintain healthy digestive functioning

Promote the health of the digestive mucosa

Naturally detox the digestive system

Soothe gastric mucus membranes

Improve energy and general well-being

Promote routine absorption of nutrition

Also try their Natural Moves for Pets. In addition to making
your dog's bowel movements more regular and promoting bowel and digestive health, this natural herbal supplement will:

Other Causes of Dog Constipation Symptoms

There is a slim chance that your dog's constipation stems from aluminum poisoning (some dogs are sensitive to this and some are not), in which case you should stop cooking your dog’s food with aluminum pots and utensils.

Is there a way to tell the difference between normal dog constipation and constipation caused by aluminum poisoning?

You bet... dog constipation symptoms from aluminum poisoning include sticky and messy feces in addition to straining or infrequent bowel movements.

To help rid the system of aluminum, feed 500 milligrams to 3 grams of Vitamin C daily along with a chelated form of Zinc supplement (5 milligrams for a small dog, 10 milligrams for medium dogs and 20 milligrams for large dogs).

Also avoid dog food served in aluminum cans, table salt, white flour and tap water (which in some areas can contain trace amounts of aluminum).

Puppy Constipation Symptoms Treatments

For puppies, constipation in dog bowels usually a results in a round tummy. An enema with warm water usually works best. Enemas are also useful for dogs with
longer-term constipation.

To administer an enema:

Mix warm (not hot) distilled water (from 2 tablespoons to a pint, depending on your dog's size) with a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice and administer the solution with a plastic or rubber syringe into the rectum over a period of 2 to 3 minutes.

To administer, lubricate the end of the syringe with vegetable oil. Have one person gently hold the animal while the other person carefully inserts the nozzle into the rectum. With gentle but consistent pressure against the anus, slowly fill the colon. You may need to adjust the angle of insertion if the solution does not flow freely out of the syringe. Your dog will most likely defecate within a few minutes. Usually one or two enemas per day for one or two days will do the trick.

If the fluid does not come out - don't worry! Your dog was most likely so dehydrated that the colon absorbed all of the fluids. This can be a great way to hydrate your dog quickly and effectively!

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Disclaimers: The information contained in this web site is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as nor should be relied upon as medical advice. Rather, it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a pet owner/site visitor and his/her local veterinarian(s). Before you use any of the information provided in the site, you should seek the advice of a qualified professional.

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Disclaimers: The information contained in this web site is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as nor should be relied upon as medical advice. Rather, it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a pet owner/site visitor and his/her local veterinarian(s). Before you use any of the information provided in the site, you should seek the advice of a qualified professional.

In the spirit of full
disclosure, we wanted to let you know that we proudly support this
website through advertising and affiliate marketing. In other words,
when you click on a link that takes you outside of this website, we
often earn a small commission. These small commissions allow us to keep
the site up and running and to continue offering it completely free of
charge to you. Rest assured that all content, recommendations and
advice are created before, and are independent of, any sponsorship or
affiliate relationship. Click
here for more info.